Nat’l Highway Traffic Safety Admin., DOT § 571.
206
[70 FR 39966, July 12, 2005]
§ 571.206 Standard No. 206; Door locks
and door retention components.
S1. Purpose and Scope. This standard
specifies requirements for door locks
and door retention components includ-
ing latches, hinges, and other sup-
yshivers on PROD1PC62 with CFR
porting means, to minimize the likeli-
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hood of occupants being thrown from
the vehicle as a result of impact.
S2. Application. This standard applies
to passenger cars, multipurpose pas-
senger vehicles, and trucks.
S3. Definitions.
Auxiliary door latch means a latch or
latches, other than the primary latch
or latches, fitted to a back door or
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 § 571.206
back door system that is equipped with
more than one latch.
Back door means a door or door sys-
tem on the back end of a motor vehicle
through which passengers can enter or
depart the vehicle, or cargo can be
loaded or unloaded; but does not in-
clude:
(a) A trunk lid; or
(b) A door or window that is com-
posed entirely of glazing material and
whose latches and/or hinges are at-
tached directly onto the glazing mate-
rial.
Cargo-Type Door means a door de-
signed primarily to accommodate
cargo loading including, but not lim-
ited to, a two-part door that latches to
itself.
Fork-bolt means the part of the door
latch that engages the striker when in
a latched position.
Fork-bolt opening means the direction
opposite to that in which the striker
enters to engage the fork-bolt.
Primary door latch means, with re-
spect to a back door or back door sys-
tem, the latch or latches equipped with
both the fully latched position and the
secondary latched position.
Side front door means a door that in a
side view, has 50 percent or more of its
opening area forward of the rearmost
point on the driver’s seatback, when
the driver’s seat is adjusted to its most
vertical and rearward position.
Side rear door means a door that, in a
side view, has more than 50 percent of
its opening area to the rear of the rear-
most point on the driver’s seatback,
when the driver’s seat is adjusted to its
most vertical and rearward position.
Trunk lid means a movable body
panel that provides access from outside
the vehicle to a space wholly parti-
tioned from the occupant compartment
by a permanently attached partition or
a fixed or fold-down seat back.
S4. Requirments.
(a) Components on side doors. Compo-
nents on any side door that leads di-
rectly into a compartment that con-
tains one or more seating accommoda-
tions shall conform to this standard.
(b) Components on back doors. Compo-
nents on any back door of a passenger
car or multipurpose passenger vehicle
with a gross vehicle weight rating
yshivers on PROD1PC62 with CFR
(GVWR) of 4,536 kilograms (10,000
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49 CFR Ch. V (10–1–08 Edition)
pounds) or less that leads directly into
a compartment that contains one or
more seating accommodations shall
conform to this standard, subject to
the following compliance schedule:
(1)(i) For those affected passenger
cars and multipurpose passenger vehi-
cles manufactured on or after Sep-
tember 1, 1997, and before September 1,
1998, the amount of such vehicles com-
plying with this standard shall be not
less than 60 percent of the combined
total production of passenger cars and
multipurpose passenger vehicles, based
on:
(A) The manufacturer’s average an-
nual production of such vehicles manu-
factured on or after September 1, 1996
and before September 1, 1998; or
(B) The manufacturer’s production of
such vehicles on or after September 1,
1997 and before September 1, 1998.
(ii) For calculating average annual
production of affected passenger cars
and multipurpose passenger vehicles
for each manufacturer and the number
of such vehicles manufactured by each
manufacturer, a vehicle produced by
more than one manufacturer shall be
attributed to a single manufacturer as
follows:
(A) A vehicle that is imported shall
be attributed to the importer;
(B) A vehicle manufactured in the
United States by more than one manu-
facturer, one of which also markets the
vehicle, shall be attributed to the man-
ufacturer that markets the vehicle.
(C) A vehicle produced by more than
one manufacturer shall be attributed
to any one of the vehicle’s manufactur-
ers specified by an express written con-
tract between the manufacturer so
specified and the manufacturer to
which the vehicle would otherwise be
attributed under paragraph (b)(1)(ii)(A)
or (B) of this section.
(2) Components on the back doors of
affected passenger cars and multipur-
pose passenger vehicles manufactured
on and after September 1, 1998 shall
conform to all applicable requirements
of this standard.
(c) Components on folding doors, roll-
up doors, doors that are designed to be
easily attached to or detached from
motor vehicles manufactured for oper-
ation without doors, and doors that are
equipped with the wheelchair lifts and
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 Nat’l Highway Traffic Safety Admin., DOT
that are linked to an alarm system
consisting of either a flashing visible
signal located in the driver’s compart-
ment or an alarm audible to the driver
that is activated when the door is open,
need not conform to this standard.
(d) A particular latch or hinge assem-
bly utilized as a test specimen need not
meet further requirements after having
been subjected to and having met any
one of the requirements of S4 or S5.1
through S5.4.
S4.1 Hinged Side Doors, Except Cargo-
Type Doors.
S4.1.1 Door Latches. Each door latch
and striker assembly shall be provided
with two positions consisting of—
(a) A fully latched position; and
(b) A secondary latched position.
S4.1.1.1 Longitudinal Load. The door
latch and striker assembly, when in
the fully latched position, shall not
separate when a longitudinal load of
11,000 Newtons (2,500 pounds) is applied.
When in the secondary latched posi-
tion, the door latch and striker assem-
bly shall not separate when a longitu-
dinal load of 4,450 Newtons (1,000
pounds) is applied.
S4.1.1.2 Transverse Load. The door
latch and striker assembly, when in
the fully latched position, shall not
separate when a transverse load of 8,900
Newtons (2,000 pounds) is applied. When
in the secondary latched position, the
door latch and striker assembly shall
not separate when a transverse load of
4,450 Newtons (1,000 pounds) is applied.
S4.1.1.3 Inertia Load. The door latch
shall not disengage from the fully
latched position when a longitudinal or
transverse inertia load of 30g is applied
to the door latch system (including the
latch and its actuating mechanism
with the locking mechanism dis-
engaged).
S4.1.2 Door Hinges. Each door hinge
system shall support the door and shall
not separate when a longitudinal load
of 11,000 Newtons (2,500 pounds) is ap-
plied. Similarly, each door hinge sys-
tem shall not separate when a trans-
verse load of 8,900 Newtons (2,000
pounds) is applied.
S4.1.3 Door Locks. Each door shall be
equipped with a locking mechanism
with an operating means in the inte-
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§ 571.206
S4.1.3.1 Side Front Door Locks. When
the locking mechanism is engaged, the
outside door handle or other outside
latch release control shall be inoper-
ative.
S4.1.3.2 Side Rear Door Locks. In pas-
senger cars and multipurpose passenger
vehicles, when the locking mechanism
is engaged both the outside and inside
door handles or other latch release con-
trols shall be inoperative.
S4.2 Hinged Cargo-Type Side Doors.
S4.2.1 Door Latches.
S4.2.1.1 Longitudinal Load. Each
latch system, when in the latched posi-
tion, shall not separate when a longitu-
dinal load of 11,000 Newtons (2,500
pounds) is applied.
S4.2.1.2 Transverse Load. Each latch
system, when in the latched position,
shall not separate when a transverse
load of 8,900 Newtons (2,000 pounds) is
applied. When more than one latch sys-
tem is used on a single door, the load
requirement may be divided among the
total number of latch systems.
S4.2.2 Door Hinges. Each door hinge
system shall support the door and shall
not separate when a longitudinal load
of 11,000 Newtons (2,500 pounds) is ap-
plied, and when a transverse load of
8,900 Newtons (2,000 pounds) is applied.
S4.3 Sliding Side Doors. The track
and slide combination or other sup-
porting means for each sliding door
shall not separate when a total trans-
verse load of 17,800 Newtons (4,000
pounds) is applied, with the door in the
closed position.
S4.4. Hinged Back Doors.
S4.4.1 Door Latches. Each back door
system shall be equipped with at least
one primary latch and striker assem-
bly.
S4.4.1.1 Load Test One. The primary
door latch and striker assembly, when
in the fully latched position, shall not
separate when a load of 11,000 Newtons
(2,500 pounds) is applied in the direc-
tion perpendicular to the face of the
latch (corresponding to the longitu-
dinal load test for side door latches)
such that the latch and the striker an-
chorage are not compressed against
each other. When in the secondary
latched position, the primary latch and
striker assembly shall not separate
when a load of 4,450 Newtons (1,000
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 § 571.206
pounds) is applied in the same direc-
tion.
S4.4.1.2 Load Test Two. The primary
door latch and striker assembly, when
in the fully latched position, shall not
separate when a load of 8,900 Newtons
(2,000 pounds) is applied in the direc-
tion of the fork-bolt opening and par-
allel to the face of the latch (cor-
responding to the transverse load test).
Figure 1 depicts the loading direction
for this test. When in the secondary
latched position, the primary latch and
striker assembly shall not separate
when a load of 4,450 Newtons (1,000
pounds) is applied in the same direc-
tion.
S4.4.1.3 Load Test Three. The pri-
mary door latch and striker assembly
on back doors equipped with a latch
and striker assembly at the bottom of
the door and that open upward shall
not disengage from the fully latched
position when a load of 8,900 Newtons
(2,000 pounds) is applied in a direction
orthogonal to the directions specified
in S4.4.1.1 and S4.4.1.2 above.
S4.4.1.4 Inertia Load. The primary
door latch shall not disengage from the
fully latched position when an inertia
load of 30g is applied to the door latch
system, including the latch and its ac-
tivation mechanism with the locking
mechanism disengaged, in the direc-
tions specified in S4.4.1.1, S4.4.1.2, and
S4.4.1.3.
S4.4.1.5 Auxiliary Door Latches. Each
auxiliary back door latch and striker
assembly shall be provided with a fully
latched position and shall comply with
the requirements specified in S4.4.1.1,
S4.4.1.2, and S4.4.1.4.
S4.4.2 Door Locks. Each back door
system equipped with interior door
handles or that leads directly into a
compartment that contains one or
more seating accommodations shall be
equipped with a locking mechanism
with operating means in both the inte-
rior and exterior of the vehicle. When
the locking mechanism is engaged,
both the inside and outside door han-
dles or other latch release controls
shall be inoperative.
S4.4.3 Door Hinges.
S4.4.3.1 Load Test One. Each back
door hinge system shall support the
door and shall not separate when a load
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of 11,000 Newtons (2,500 pounds) is ap-
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plied perpendicular to the hinge face
plate (longitudinal load test) such that
the hinge plates are not compressed
against each other.
S4.4.3.2 Load Test Two. Each back
door hinge system shall not separate
when a load of 8,900 Newtons (2,000
pounds) is applied perpendicular to the
axis of the hinge pin and parallel to the
hinge face plate (transverse load test)
such that the hinge plates are not com-
pressed against each other.
S4.4.3.3 Load Test Three. Each hinge
system on back doors that open upward
shall not separate when a load of 8,900
Newtons (2,000 pounds) is applied in the
direction of the axis of the hinge pin.
S4.5 Sliding Back Doors. The track
and slide combination or other sup-
porting means for each sliding door
shall not separate when a total longi-
tudinal load of 17,800 Newtons (4,000
pounds) is applied, with the door in the
closed position.
S5.1 Hinged Side Doors, Except Cargo-
Type Doors.
S5.1.1 Door Latches.
S5.1.1.1 Longitudinal and Transverse
Loads. Compliance with paragraphs
S4.1.1.1 and S4.1.1.2 shall be dem-
onstrated in accordance with para-
graph 5 of Society of Automotive Engi-
neers Recommended Practice J839, Pas-
senger Car Side Door Latch Systems,
June 1991.
S5.1.1.2 Inertia Load. Compliance
with S4.1.1.3 shall be demonstrated by
approved tests or in accordance with
paragraph 6 of Society of Automotive
Engineers Recommended Practice J839,
Passenger Car Side Door Latch Systems,
June 1991.
S5.1.2 Door Hinges. Compliance with
S4.1.2 shall be demonstrated in accord-
ance with paragraph 4 or 5, as appro-
priate, of Society of Automotive Engi-
neers Recommended Practice J934, Ve-
hicle Passenger Door Hinge Systems, July
1982. For piano-type hinges, the hinge
spacing requirements of SAE J934 shall
not be applicable and arrangement of
the test fixture shall be altered as re-
quired so that the test load will be ap-
plied to the complete hinge.
S5.2 Hinged Cargo-Type Side Doors.
S5.2.1 Door Latches. Compliance
with S4.2.1 shall be demonstrated in ac-
cordance with paragraphs 5.1 and 5.3,
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 Nat’l Highway Traffic Safety Admin., DOT
SAE Recommended Practice J839, Pas-
senger Car Side Door Latch Systems,
June 1991. An equivalent static test fix-
ture may be substituted for that shown
in Figure 2 of SAE J839, if required.
S5.2.2 Door Hinges. Compliance with
S4.2.2 shall be demonstrated in accord-
ance with paragraph 4 or 5, as appro-
priate, of SAE Recommended Practice
J934, Vehicle Passenger Door Hinge Sys-
tems, July 1982. For piano-type hinges,
the hinge spacing requirement of SAE
J934 shall not be applicable and ar-
rangement of the test fixture shall be
altered as required so that the test
load will be applied to the complete
hinge.
S5.3 Sliding Side Doors. Compliance
with S4.3 shall be demonstrated by ap-
plying an outward transverse load of
8,900 Newtons (2,000 pounds) to the
load-bearing members at the opposite
edges of the door (17,800 Newtons (4,000
pounds) total). The demonstration may
be performed either in the vehicle or
with the door retention components in
a bench test fixture.
S5.4 Hinged Back Doors.
S5.4.1.1 Load Tests One, Two, and
Three. Compliance with S4.4.1.1,
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§ 571.206
S4.4.1.2, and S4.4.1.3 shall be dem-
onstrated in the same manner as speci-
fied in S5.1.1.1, except that the loads
shall be in the directions specified in
S4.4.1.1, S4.4.1.2, and S4.4.1.3. The same
test device may be used for Load Tests
Two and Three.
S5.4.1.2 Inertia Load. Compliance
with S4.4.1.4 shall be demonstrated in
the same manner as specified in
S5.1.1.2.
S5.4.2 Door Hinges. Compliance with
S4.4.3.1, S4.4.3.2, and S4.4.3.3 shall be
demonstrated in the same manner as
specified in S5.1.2, except that the
loads shall be in the directions speci-
fied in S4.4.3.1, S4.4.3.2, and S4.4.3.3.
The same test device may be used for
Load Tests Two and Three.
S5.5 Sliding Back Doors. Compliance
with S4.5 shall be demonstrated by ap-
plying an outward longitudinal load of
8,900 Newtons (2,000 pounds) to the load
bearing members at the opposite edges
of the door (17,000 Newtons (4,000
pounds) total). The demonstration may
be performed either in the vehicle or
with the door retention components in
a bench test fixture.
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 § 571.206 49 CFR Ch. V (10–1–08 Edition)

[36 FR 22902, Dec. 2, 1971, as amended at 37 FR 284, Jan. 8, 1972; 50 FR 12031, Mar. 27, 1985; 60
FR 13646, Mar. 14, 1995; 60 FR 50134, Sept. 28, 1995; 61 FR 39907, July 31, 1996]

EFFECTIVE DATE NOTE: At 72 FR 5399, Feb. ‘‘back door,’’ ‘‘fork-bolt,’’ ‘‘primary door
6, 2007, § 571.206 was amended by revising S1; latch,’’ ‘‘side front door,’’ ‘‘side rear door,’’
yshivers on PROD1PC62 with CFR

S2; the definitions of ‘‘auxiliary door latch,’’ and ‘‘trunk lid’’ in S3; S4 through S4.1.1.3;

698
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 Nat’l Highway Traffic Safety Admin., DOT
S4.1.2; S4.2 through S4.2.1.2; S4.2.2; S4.3; S5.1
through S5.1.1.2; S5.1.2; S5.2; S5.2.1; S5.2.2;
Figure 1;, adding ‘‘auxiliary door latch sys-
tem,’’ ‘‘body member,’’ ‘‘door closure warn-
ing system,’’ ‘‘door hinge system,’’ ‘‘door
latch system,’’ ‘‘door member,’’ ‘‘door sys-
tem,’’ ‘‘double door,’’ ‘‘folding door,’’ ‘‘fork-
bolt opening direction,’’ ‘‘fully-latched posi-
tion,’’ ‘‘hinge,’’ ‘‘hinge pin,’’ ‘‘latch,’’ ‘‘pri-
mary door latch system,’’ ‘‘secondary
latched position,’’ ‘‘striker,’’ to the defini-
tions in S3; S4.1.1.4; S4.1.2.1 through S4.1.2.3;
S4.2.1.3; S4.2.2.1; S4.2.2.2; S4.3.1; S4.3.2; S5;
S5.1.1.3; S5.1.1.4; S5.1.2.1 through S5.1.2.4;
S5.2.1.1 through S5.2.1.4; S5.2.2.1 through
S5.2.2.4; S5.3; Figures 2 through 4; Table 1;
Figures 5 through 9; and removing ‘‘cargo-
type door’’ and ‘‘fork-bolt opening’’ from the
definitions in S3, S4.1.3, S4.1.3.1, S4.4 through
S4.5, and S5.4 through S5.5. For the conven-
ience of the user, the added and revised text
is set forth as follows:
§ 571.206 Standard 206; Door locks and door
retention components.
S1. Scope and Purpose. This standard speci-
fies requirements for vehicle door locks and
door retention components, including
latches, hinges, and other supporting means,
to minimize the likelihood of occupants
being ejected from a vehicle as a result of
impact.
S2. Application. This standard applies to
passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehi-
cles, and trucks, and buses with a gross vehi-
cle weight rating (GVWR) of 4,536 kg or less.
S3. Definitions.
Auxiliary Door Latch is a latch equipped
with a fully latched position, with or with-
out a secondary latched position, and fitted
to a door or door system equipped with a pri-
mary door latch system.
Auxiliary Door Latch System consists of door
latches and strikers other than those associ-
ated with the primary door latch system.
Back Door is a door or door system on the
back end of a motor vehicle through which
passengers can enter or depart the vehicle or
cargo can be loaded or unloaded. It does not
include:
(a) A trunk lid; or
(b) A door or window composed entirely of
glazing material and whose latches and/or
hinge systems are attached directly to the
glazing material.
Body Member is that portion of the hinge
normally affixed to the body structure.
Door Closure Warning System is a system
that will activate a visual signal when a door
latch system is not in its fully latched posi-
tion and the vehicle ignition is activated.
Door Hinge System is one or more hinges
used to support a door.
Door Latch System consists of latches and
yshivers on PROD1PC62 with CFR
strikers installed on a door system.
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§ 571.206
Door Member is that portion of the hinge
normally affixed to the door structure and
constituting the swinging member.
Door System is the door, latch, striker,
hinges, sliding track combinations and other
door retention components on a door and its
surrounding doorframe. The door system of a
double door includes both doors.
Double Door is a system of two doors where
the front door or wing door opens first and
connects to the rear door or bolted door,
which opens second.
Folding Door is a movable barrier, which
will close off an entranceway to a bus, multi-
purpose passenger vehicle or truck, con-
sisting of two or more hinge panels that
swing, slide, or rotate; does not have a strik-
er and latch assembly.
Fork-bolt is the part of the latch that en-
gages and retains the striker when in a
latched position.
Fork-bolt Opening Direction is the direction
opposite to that in which the striker enters
the latch to engage the fork-bolt.
Fully Latched Position is the coupling con-
dition of the latch that retains the door in a
completely closed position.
Hinge is a device system used to position
the door relative to the body structure and
control the path of the door swing for pas-
senger ingress and egress.
Hinge Pin is that portion of the hinge nor-
mally interconnecting the body and door
members and establishing the swing axis.
Latch is a device employed to maintain the
door in a closed position relative to the vehi-
cle body with provisions for deliberate re-
lease (or operation).
Primary Door Latch is a latch equipped with
both a fully latched position and a secondary
latched position and is designated as a ‘‘pri-
mary door latch’’ by the manufacturer.
Primary Door Latch System consists of a pri-
mary door latch(s) and a striker(s).
Secondary Latched Position refers to the
coupling condition of the latch that retains
the door in a partially closed position.
Side Front Door is a door that, in a side
view, has 50 percent or more of its opening
area forward of the rearmost point on the
driver’s seat back, when the seat back is ad-
justed to its most vertical and rearward posi-
tion.
Side Rear Door is a door that, in a side
view, has 50 percent or more of its opening
area to the rear of the rearmost point on the
driver’s seat back, when the driver’s seat is
adjusted to its most vertical and rearward
position.
Striker is a device with which the latch en-
gages to maintain the door in the fully
latched or secondary latched position.
Trunk Lid is a movable body panel that
provides access from outside the vehicle to a
space wholly partitioned from the occupant
compartment by a permanently attached
partition or fixed or fold-down seat back.
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